To get ready for the coming local elections, we’ll be collecting filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission. We’ll see who’s raising how much and what sorts of financial interests candidates are declaring.

We’ll also spend some time checking court records, online records and our own archives. Will any of the checks produce a story? I don’t know, but the checks come with the territory, both for reporters and candidates.

Meanwhile, over at the Chelan County’s elections office, work has been completed that will let observers watch the counting of ballots without violating security. Visitors will be able to walk around the elections office and see the whole process through glass partitions.

Over at the Public Disclosure Commission, there’s a nifty map that breaks out contributions by county to Gregoire and Rossi.

Gregoire has reported raising more than $7 million while Rossi has about $5.6 million, through Tuesday afternoon. King County, of course, is at the top of the list for both candidates.

In Chelan County, Rossi has about $57,000 in donations and Gregoire, about $19,000. it’s pretty much the same sort of picture for the other NCW counties.

And somewhere in Garfield County, way over in southeast Washington, Gregoire has attracted a total of $10 in donations.
Rossi’s ruling there with $578.